Graystone Academy
Charter School has high expectations for all students. In order for students to reach their
potential, classrooms and schools must be free of disruptive behavior. Maintaining good discipline within the
school is also a community responsibility. Parents must be familiar with and supportive of school
standards and work closely with the school staff. Whenever possible, a teacher will ask parents for help in
correcting a problem. If the
situation continues or is serious, the teacher will seek assistance from the
chief administrative officer or principal’s designee. Our school does not discriminate on the
basis of race, gender, economic status, medical/handicapping condition,
national origin, or any other personal characteristics in regard to
disciplinary actions against students. Rules and regulations apply to school grounds and premises before,
during, and after school hours; anytime school buildings or grounds are used by
a school group; off school grounds
at any school function or event; when traveling to and from school, or school
function; at bus stops; or at any time or place which may affect an educational
function or be identified with the school.
Examples for most
rules are provided. The range of
consequences for violating that rule accompanies each rule. The school administrator will determine
the level of the consequence based on such factors as the age of the student,
number of prior offenses, and the severity of the offense. The school does not permit employees to
use corporal punishment (the physical striking of a student as a disciplinary
measure) in disciplining a student. It is recognized that reasonable use of physical force and restraint may
be necessary to stop a disturbance threatening physical injury to others, to obtain
possession of dangerous objects from students, for the purpose of self-defense,
or for the protection of persons or property.
Teachers and/or
administrators may use various means in an attempt to influence student
behavior including, but not limited to, counseling with the student, assigning
detentions, having conferences with parents, assigning extra responsibilities
or time in school, placing the student in a “time-out” room or an
in-school suspension room, assigning community service projects, referring to
an intervention team, or removing a child from class for a day pending review
of the situation. The chief
administrative officer/designee and teacher may cooperatively remove the
student from the class for more than one (1) day if this consequence would be
beneficial in solving the problem. The chief administrative officer may use any of those means, or after
conducting an appropriate investigation, may suspend a child for up to 10 days
and, in some cases, may recommend a student be placed in an alternative program
or expelled. The Chief administrative
officer also may establish rules and regulations, as long as they are
consistent with the Behavior Code and the policies established by the Board.
The chief
administrative officer/designee or classroom teacher may conduct a search of a
student’s locker, book bag, student possessions/belongings, if they have
reasonable suspicion for a search. Reasonable suspicion for a search means circumstances which would cause
a reasonable person to believe the search of a particular person, place, or
thing will lead to the discovery of:
1 Evidence
of a violation of this Code or state law; or
2. Anything
which represents a danger of physical harm or illness to students, teachers,
assistants, or others, whether on school property, at a school-sponsored or
school-supervised event, or otherwise.
Anything found in
the course of a search, which is evidence of a violation of the behavior
code, may be:
1. Seized
and admitted as evidence in any suspension or expulsion proceeding;
2. Destroyed
if it has no significant value;
3. Turned
over to the parent of the student from whom it was seized; or
4. Turned
over to any law enforcement officer.
Good attendance
is essential if students are to achieve and reach their potential. Each day is important for
learning. Parents are required to
ensure their child(ren) maintain good attendance. Parents should also provide current emergency phone numbers. It is a parent’s responsibility
to call the school by 8:00 a.m. the day a child is absent. If the parent does not call, the school
will attempt to call the parent that day to document the absence. After a total of fifteen (15) days of
absence is reached anytime during the school year, a student must have a note
from a medical doctor or any further absence will be counted as unexcused. However, a period of extended illness
(such as for chicken pox) may be considered a single occurance for this
requirement. A parent who has a
son/daughter with a chronic illness may have a medical doctor write a letter
explaining the illness and file it at the school. After review by school health personnel, the letter may
exempt the parent/student from securing a doctor’s statement each time
the student is absent during the school year.
A student is
considered tardy if he or she is not present at the beginning of
class/school. A student is not
counted as tardy if the bus is late. An absence of between one (1) and four (4) hours will be counted as a
half-day absence. A child who
misses more than four (4) hours of school will be counted absent for the full
day.
1. Personal
illness. The chief administrative
officer may require a doctor’s or dentist’s note.
2. Medical
or Dental Appointments. Notice should be given to the teacher prior to the
absence, except in the case of an emergency.
3. Serious
illness in the immediate family (those living in the home) of the student.
4. Death
in the family.
5. Inclement
weather (in the parent’s judgment).
6. Head
lice.
7. Pending
placement in an alternative program.
8. Lack of proper
immunizations or waiver (one day only).
9. Quarantine. An absence ordered by the local health
office or by the State Board of Health.
10. Court or Administrative
Proceedings. An absence resulting
from the attendance of a student at the proceedings of a court or an
administrative tribunal if the student is a party to the action or under
subpoena as a witness.
11. Out-of-school
suspensions. (A student who is suspended is absent but counted as an excused absence for reporting
purposes.)
12. Observance of
a Religious Holiday. An absence may be considered excused if the tenets of a
religion, to which a student or his/her parent adhere, require observance of a
religious event.
13. Educational
Opportunities or Family Educational Trips. An absence may be excused when it is
demonstrated that the purpose of the absence is to take advantage of a valid
educational opportunity. Approval for such an absence must be granted prior to the absence in accordance with the Student Educational
Leave of Absence Policy - See Below.
14. Other
absences as approved by the chief administrative officer (academic or athletic
competitions, parent request).
1. Truancy. No parent contact with the school
giving an explanation for the absence.
2. Lack
of proper immunizations or waiver after the first day.
3. Absence
due to loss of bus privilege.
4. Other
reasons not noted as excused.
According to
the Charter School Law and the PA State School Code - Section 1332. GACS is
obligated to inform the student's district of residence whenever the student
has three days of unexcused absence. This district where the student resides is responsible under Sections
1354 and 1333 of the School Code to bring action against parents or students
who have violated the compulsory attendance laws.
School
officials have the option to waive any action if there are documented chronic
health conditions or other serious problems. Parents must petition the Board of Trustees by submitting a
written request and providing evidence to support the request.
Educational
Leave of Absence Policy
A planned absence, which extends
beyond three consecutive scheduled school days, requires a formal application
process in advance according to Educational Leave of Absence Policy. The
application process involves a formal request to the Principal/CAO received no
later than 45 days before the scheduled absence and approval by the Board of
Trustees. The formal request must include the dates, destination, and purpose
of the trip, a description of the educational value, specific plans for
enrichment, and arrangements that have been made for making up missed classroom
work. Failure to follow Educational Leave of Absence Policy procedures without
just cause may result in removal from the rolls. Planned
absences that shorten the school year by coinciding with either the beginning
or the end of Graystone Academy Charter School extended school year are not
permitted. Extended leave of
absence will not be approved if a student has been absent 10% of the school
year already completed or if it would put a student over an accumulated 20 days
of absence for the school year.
Students who are
absent will be provided the opportunity to receive assignments during the
absence and, if possible, to make up work upon their return. Students who are truant will be
permitted to make up work at the discretion of the teacher. The time frame for completing makeup
work shall be the total number of days absent, plus one.
If the parent has
not contacted the school by 8:00 a.m. informing them of a student’s
absence, the school will make a reasonable effort to telephone the parent. A parent who tells the school that a
child has an extended illness, such as the flu or chicken pox, will not be
contacted again during that illness.
Students are
considered truant if they are not at school and/or in class without parental
consent, approved excuse, or if they have accumulated three (3) unexcused
absences. If three (3) or more
truancies are accumulated, the student will be referred to the board for
expulsion.